YORK — A York County official has determined that the county will no longer conduct business with the School Board Member Alliance, a move that prompted a rebuttal from the educational policy organization.
On June 5, York County purchasing agent Janet Dudley sent a letter to Sherri Story, executive director of the SBMA, a school board advocacy and consulting group founded last year as a conservative alternative to the Virginia School Boards Association. In the letter, Dudley wrote that she determined that the SBMA has exhibited a “lack of moral and business integrity” and is a “nonresponsible organization.”
Because of the finding, the letter said, neither “the County of York, VA, nor the County School Board of York County, Virginia/York County School Division shall be allowed to contract with the SBMA.”
Dudley said she made the decision after consulting the York County School Division’s attorney, Melanie Berry, and School Board Chair Kimberly Goodwin.
Dudley based her finding on a conversation that she said took place between Goodwin and the SBMA leadership via videoconference. Dudley did not specify when the meeting occurred. In the conversation, Dudley alleged, SBMA leadership directed Goodwin to vote no in any attempt to remove Lynda Fairman from the position of School Board chair. The SBMA required such a vote from Goodwin to continue receiving their support, Dudley claimed.
At a special meeting May 28, the School Board voted 3-2 to remove Fairman as chair. Goodwin, whom the board subsequently selected to be the new chair, made the motion to replace Fairman and was one of the three yes votes.
Under Fairman’s chairmanship, the School Board considered purchasing services from the SBMA, but ultimately decided to stick with the VSBA, which the division has contracted for policy writing since 2011. Fairman, Goodwin and board member Zoran Pajevic have purchased individual annual memberships with the SBMA.
In a news release, the SBMA disputed the allegations, calling them “false and unsubstantiated.”
The news release acknowledged a videoconference with Story, Goodwin and Fairman to discuss School Board leadership, a recurring item on the board’s agenda. But the release said that Story never directed Goodwin to vote one way or another.
“At no time during the videoconference, nor in any interactions with Mr. Goodwin, did SBMA suggest that we would stop providing her with professional support services or withdraw our support,” the release said. “Any claim suggesting otherwise is flatly false.”
The SBMA also said that Dudley did not contact Story or Fairman to gather information prior to making her decision, which SBMA described as “surprising, arbitrary, and unlawful.”
The SBMA indicated that it will appeal the decision. Dudley said in her letter that the SBMA has a right to appeal within 10 days of receiving the determination.
In a follow-up email, Dudley said that the county’s Central Purchasing Division, which buys goods and services for its offices, routinely assesses organizations and vendors for responsibility, and that a finding of non-responsibility is uncommon.
Dudley declined further comment until the SBMA has had an opportunity to respond. Goodwin did not respond to a request for comment.
Ben Swenson, ben.swenson05@gmail.com
